Time recording apparatus



NV 3 1964 J. T. PARsoNs ETAI. 3,155,453

TIME RECORDING APPARATUS original Filed Jan. 6, 195s INVENTORS JOHN IPARSONS Alva FLOYD E. HARWOOO A TTORNE YS United States Patent O3,.l55,453 Tilvliii RECRDENG APPARATUS .lohn T. Parsons, itraverse City,Mich., and Floyd E. Harwood, Fort Wayne, ind., assignors to ParsonsCorporation, Traverse City, Mich., a corporation of Michigan @riginalapplication 6, 1h55, Ser. No. 767,254, novi Patent No. 3,2ll,llll5,dated Feb. o, @62. Eivided and this application Aug. 4, i963, Ser. No.129,346 5 Qlaims. (Ci, Sari-SZ) This invention relates to a recordingapparatus and,

.more particularly, to new and improved means for controlling a timerecorder of the type shown in a cop-ending application of lohn T.Parsons and Floyd E. Harwood, Serial No. 674,131, tiled luly 25, 1957,now Patent No. 3,601,693, which copending application is assigned to thesame assignee as the present application. The present application is adivision of our copending application Serial No. 707,254, filed January6, 1958, now Patent No. 3,020,115, and assigned to the same assignee asthe present application.

In general, the time recorder disclosed in the above identifiedapplication consists of a timing circuit having switches which arecontinuously adjusted to settings representing instant time and a groupot storage relays which are selectively operated by a sensing unit inresponse to the insertion of a coded key or badge into the sensing unitto store digits forming the designation of an en ployee. The timerecorder is placed in operation by the insertion of a blank record cardinto a guideway leading to the punching assembly and by the insertion ofa coded key into the sensing unit. During a cycle of operation, acommutator in the recording apparatus sequentially interconnects aplurality of interposer solenoids in the punching assembly with thevarious switches in the timing circuit and the various groups of digitstoring relays so that these items of information are punched atlongitudinally spaced positions on the record card. Following thecompletion of the recording operation, the punched card is ejected fromthe time recorder.

In the time recorder disclosed in the above-identified copendingapplication Serial No. 674,131, led July 25, 1957, the timing circuit isoperated' at time spaced intervals by signals applied from a motordriven timing mechanism. in order to prevent the adjustment of thestepping switches included in the timing circuit during an interval inwhich time is being recorded by the punching assembly, an interlockarrangement is provided which arrests cyclic operation of the punchingassembly under the control of the commutator during those intervals inwhich the setting of the timing circuit is being adjusted. However, itis frequently desirable to permit the uninterrupted completion of therecording operation following its initiation.

Thus, another object of the present invention is to provide a controlcircuit for a time recorder in which a recording cycle of operation iscompleted without interruption following its initiation and in whichmeans are provided for maintaining accurate operation of a timingcircuit.

Another object is to provide a time recorder including means forarresting the transmission of operating signals to a timing circuitduring operation of a connected time recorder and means for storingsignals transmitted during this interval and for thereafter applyingthem to the timing circuit to adjust the setting thereof.

In the prior time recorder unit, the record card is advancedstep-by-step relative to the punching assembly by a step-by-step driveassembly including a drive wheel and a shiftable idler which is moved tobias the record card into engagement with the drive wheel when thestepby-step drive assembly is rendered effective. This time ice recorderunit further includes a card ejecting mechanism for ejecting a punchedcard from the recorder at the completion of the recording operation.When the ejecting mechanism is operated prior to the release of thestep-by-step drive assembly, the shiftable idler in the step-by-stepdrive assembly tends to retard the discharge of the punched card by theejecting mechanism.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide meanscontrolled by the operation of an ejecting assembly for rendering a cardfeeding mechanism ineffective.

A further object is to provide means for shifting an idler in a cardfeeding assembly out of engagement with a punched card when an ejectingmeans is operated.

ln many instances,- the items of information recorded on a record cardduring a single cycle of rotation of the control commutator is notsufficient to till all of the available columns on the card. However, inthe time recording unit shown in the above-identified application, thecard is automatically ejected in response to the completion of a singlecycle of operation of the commutator so that several different dataentries cannot be recorded on a single card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control circuitfor a time recorder which is effective either to eject a punched recordcard in response to the recording of a first data entry thereon or toeject the card from the punching assembly after a predetermined numberof data entries have been recorded on a single card.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment thereof in conjunction with the single sheetof drawings which forms a schematic diagram of a time recordel' and acontrol circuit therefor embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the time recording unit controlled by thecircuit shown therein is of the type disclosed and described in detailin the above-identified copending Parsons and Harwood application SerialNo. 674,l31, now Patent No. 3,001,693, and generally comprises apunching assembly controlled by a plurality of interposer solenoids it@which is selectively supplied with information to be recorded from atiming circuit 12 and a badge storage unit la under the control of acommutator indicated generally as i6. The badge storage unitlitcomprises a plurality of groups of storage relays which areselectively operated by a badge sensing unit i3 in response to theinsertion of a coded badge into the unit it. When a blank record card isinserted into the punching assembly and a badge is inserted into thesensing unit l, the digits forming the designation of the employee arestored in the badge storage unit 14 and the inserted card iscontinuously advanced to a position aligned with the punching assemblyin which it is conditioned to receive the iirst item of information tobe recorded thereon. 1n moving to this position, a control mechanismgoverned by a one-revolution clutch is renered effective so that acontrol shaft rotates through a plurality of successive cycles. In eachof these cycles, the punching assembly is actuated to punch an item ofinformation in the record card. The record card is advanced a singlestep, and the commutator 16 is advanced a single step to render the nextdata storing unit effective to control the operation of the interposersolenoids lil. Following the completion of the recording of the items ofinformation, the continuing rotation of the control shaft is interruptedand the punched card is ejected from the recorder. Alternatively, if anumber of separate er1- tries are to be recorded on a single card, thecontrol circuit disables the ejecting means until such time as apredetermined number of complete cycles of operation of the commutatorlo have been completed. At this time, the punched card is ejected andthe time recorder unit is restored to a normal condition.

Referring now more specically to the punching assembly, this assembly isillustrated in detail in the aboveidentiied copending application SerialNo. 674,'131 and includes ten movable punch elements which are spacedtransversely relative to the record card so that one or more of thesepunch elements can be blocked against movement under the control of theinterposer solenoids lll. Thus, when the punching assembly is actuated,punch elements associated with the operated interposer solenoids areblocked against movement and are effective to punch the card inpositions related to the value of the digit to be recorded.

The details of the time circuit l2 are also disclosed in detail in theabove-identified copending application. As illustrated therein, thetiming circuit l2` generally consists of a plurality of steppingswitches which are serially connected for operation in response tosignals supplied to an input conductor 56. rfhus, the position of theswitches at any given instant represents the digits of instant time. Thecontact banks of the various stepping switches are connected in commonby a cable 57 to the interposer solenoids lll, and the various wipers ofthe stepping switches in the timing circuit l2, are rendered effectivein sequence to control the interposer solenoids lll by the commutator lewhich is connected to the timing circuit 'l2 by a cable 59, A conductor58 interconnecting the timing circuit l2 with the control circuit forthe time recorder unit is periodically provided with a positivepotential to perform certain control operations in the circuit f2, suchas carry and reset functions.

To provide a means for operating the stepping switches in the timingcircuit l?. at periodic intervals, a timing motor 5@ is provided whichis placed in operation by the closure of a switch Sl to rotate a pair ofcams 52 and 53. At suitable time intervals, the cam 52 momentarilycloses a pair of contacts 52a` so that a positive potential provided bya suitable potential source 5tlis forwarded through the closed contacts52a and through a pair of normally closed contacts 426C to be applied tothe input conductor 56. This operating signal or pulse advances thelowest ordered one of the serially connected stepping switches a singlestep, thus representing the expiration of the selected time interval.The cam 53 periodically closes a pair of contacts 53a in synchronismwith the closure of the contacts 52a to forward a positive potentialover the conductor 53 for performing such functions as carry and resetoperations.

Referring now more specifically to the badge storage unit lli and thebadge sensing unit ltd, these units are identical to the similarcomponents shown and described in detail in the above identifiedcopending Parsons and Harwood application Serial No. 674,131. lngeneral, the badge storage unit ld comprises a plurality of groups ofstorage relays which are selectively operated by the insertion of abadge into the unit t8 to provide a plurality of conductive paths, eachrepresenting one of the digits of the designation of the employee. Theseconductive paths, which are formed by relay contact decoding treescontrolled by the storage relays, are connected in common to theinterposer solenoids lll over a cable dit. The various conductive pathsformed by the storage relays the badge storage unit ldare sequentiallyrendered effective to control the operation of the interposer solenoidslil by the commtitator f6 which is connected to the badge storage unitlll by a cable 62.

The badge sensing unit ld includes a plurality of movable sensing orfeeler pins carried on a movable plate. When a badge Vto be sensed isinserted into the unit im, a pair of contacts 64 in the control circuitis mechanically engaged and closed to operate a sensing unit actuatingsolenoid 26. ln operating, the solenoid moves the plurality of sensingpins toward the inserted. badge so that this une

a plurality of contacts are selectively operated in accordance with theperforations provided in the inserted badge. These contacts areconnected by a cable 65 to the badge storage unit f4 so that theoperation thereof selectively operates the plurality of storage relaysin the badge storage unit it to store the digits forming the designationof the employee.

Referring now more specifically to the control circuit for the timerecorder unit, in the normal condition of this circuit, a relay 2d ismaintained in an operated state by the positive potential provided bythe power source 5d which is forwarded through a pair of normally closedcontacts dtla. ln its operated condition, the relay Zlcloses a pluralityof contacts 24e, Zlib, and 2de and opens a pair kof contacts Een'. Theclosure of the contacts 2da completes a portion of a holding circuit fora relay 22 and a motor control relay 36. The closed contacts 24h forwardthe positive potential provided by the source 54 to the badge storageunit ld to provide a source of holding potential for the storage relaystherein. The opening of the contacts Edd interrupts an additional pointin the operating circuit for a first counting relay d2, and the closureof the contacts 24e performs no useful function at this time.

If the time recorder is to be conditioned for recording several separatedata entries on the card prior to its ejection, a selector switch 72 isoperated to close a pair of contacts 72a and to open a pair of contacts72b. The recorder is then further conditioned for operation by insertinga blank record card into a card guideway extending to the punchingassembly. When the card is thus inserted, a switch arrangement 7d isoperated to open a pair of normally closed contacts 70a and to close apair of contacts 7M?. The closure of the contacts lilly produces nouseful function, but the opening of the contacts 7tlg interrupts anadditional point in a circuit for initiating operation of the recorder.The coded key or badge of the employee whose identification is to berecorded on the record card in conjunction with instant time is theninserted into the badge sensing unit lil so that the contacts ed areclosed. The closure of the contacts 645 extends the positive potentialprovided by the source 54 through the closed contacts 72a and a pair ofnormally closed contacts tlc to complete an obvious operating circuitfor a motor control relay 36. The operation of the relay 36 closes apair of contacts 36a so that a common drive motor 3S for the timerecorder unit is connected to a suitable source of power and thus placedin operation.

The positive potential provided at the closed contacts dd is alsoforwarded through a pair of normally closed contacts 22a to complete anoperating circuit for a slowto-release relay Ztl and directly to theoperating winding of a slow-to-operate relay 22. The relay Ztl operatesimmediately to close a pair of contacts 2da. The closure of the contacts2tlg operates the solenoid 2o so that the sensing pins in the badgesensing unit l@ are moved toward the inserted key, thereby selectivelyoperating the sensing contacts so that a coded representation of thedigits forming the designation of the employee is stored in the badgestorage unit ld by the selective operation of a plurality of the storagerelays therein. The selective operation of these relays prepares aplurality of conductive paths, each representing one` of the digits ofthe employee designation.

After the slow-to-operate interval of the relay 22, this relay operatesto open the contacts 22a and to close a plurality of contacts Zb-Ze.rl`he closure of the contacts 22h completes a holding circuit for therelay 22 so that this relay is maintained operated. The closure of thecontacts Z211 also completes a holding circuit for the motor controlrelay 36 extending through the closed contacts 2da and fiile. Theopening of the contacts 22a interrupts the operating circuit for therelay so that this relay releases after its delay interval to open thecontacts Ztla. The opening ot the contacts Zita releases the solenoid 2dso that the sensing pins in the badge sensing unit 18 are withdrawn fromthe apertures in the inserted key. This permits the inserted key to beremoved from the badge sensing unit so that the contacts 64 are opened.However, the opening of the contacts 64 does not release the relays 22and 3o due to the prior completion of the holding circuits therefor. Theclosure of the contacts 22e prepares an operating circuit for a punchrelay 3i), which circuit is interrupted at the open contacts 70a. Theclosure of the contacts 22d similarly prepares an operating circuit fora relay 2S.

The closure of the contacts 22e extends the positive potential providedby the source 5d through the closed contacts '72a and a pair of normallyclosed contacts 281 to operate a feed roll solenoid 7d. As described indetail in the above-identied copending Parsons and Harwood applicationSerial No. 674,131, the operation of the solenoid 74 engages a rstcontinuous drive mechanism so that the leading edge of the blank recordcard inserted into the record guideway is advanced into engagement witha card locating gate which arrests movement of the card in a position toreceive the rst item of information to be recorded thereon. As thetrailing edge of the card moves beyond the switch 7l), the contacts 7tlbare opened and the contacts '70a are closed. The closure of the contacts70a concurrently completes an operating circuit for the relays ZS andBtl.

More specifically, the closure of the contacts 7de forwards the positivepotential provided by the source 54 through the closed contacts 72a,7tlg, and 22d and a plurality of normally closed contacts Zlib and itlbto energize the winding of the relay 2S. In operating, the relay 2Sopens the contacts Ztib and closes a plurality of contacts 28a, andZSC-Ztig. The contacts 28o and Zilb form a make-before-break contactarrangement so that the closure of the contacts 2da completes a holdingcircuit for the relay 28 extending to the positive potential provided atthe source 54 prior to the opening of the contacts 28h. The closure ofthe contacts 28e provides a shunt around the contacts 70a to prevent theinsertion of a card into the guideway from disturbing the presentoperation of the control circuit.

The opening of the contacts 28) interrupts the above described operatingcircuit for the feed roll solenoid 7d so that this solenoid is releasedto render the continuous drive mechanism for advancing the card to apunching position ineffective. The closure of the contacts Qldd preparesa portion of an operating circuit for a clutch solenoid 32 and card stopsolenoid 3st, which circuit is interrupted at a pair of normally opencontacts 39a. The closure of the contacts 28C forwards the positivepotential provided at the closed contacts 23e and 'ia through a pair ofnormally closed contacts 76a to energize an index feed roll solenoid 73.The energization of the solenoid 73 moves an idler roller in astep-by-step card feeding mechanism into engagement with the insertedrecord card to press this card into driving engagement with a wheelwhich is subsequently indexed to feed the card step-by-step during thepunching operation. The closure of the contacts 28g prepares a furtherholding circuit for the relay 36.

Referring back to the above-described closure of the contacts 7tlg, thepositive potential provided at these closed contacts is forwardedthrough the closed contacts 22e to complete an obvious operating circuitfor a relay 30. In operating, the relay 3@ closes the contacts 30a. Theclosure of the contacts 30a completes an operating circuit for thesolenoids 32 and 34. The operation of the card stop or gate solenoid 34raises the gate against which the leading edge of the advanced card hasbeen moved to permit this card to be advanced step-by-step during thepunching operation under the control of the indexing feed assembly. Inmoving upwardly, the gate actuates a switch, as described in detail inthe above-identified copending Parsons and Harwood application, to closea pair of contacts 34a. The closure of the contacts 34a completes anadditional holding circuit for the relay 28 so as to maintain this relayenergized until the punched card has been ejected from the punchingassembly. The operation of the clutch solenoid 32 engages theone-revolution clutch so that a control shaft is placed in continuousoperation. During each cycle of rotation of the control shaft, thepunching assembly conrolled by the interposer solenoids l0 is actuated,the drive wheel in the indexing drive assembly controlled by thesolenoid 78 is advanced through an increment of rotary movement toadvance the record card a single step, and the commutator lo is advanceda single step.

The operatori of the recording assembly now continues under the controlof the control shaft, as described in detail in the above-identiiiedcopending Parsons and Harwood application. More specifically, followingthe operation of the clutch solenoid 32, the rotation of the controlshaft advances a cani il@ so that a pair of contacts 35511 are closed.rl`hus, the positive potential supplied at the closed contacts 22e isforwarded to a common conductive segment S2 in the commutator to andthen forwarded over a wiper Sd to the iirst of the individual contactsS6 included in ti e commutator lo. As shown in the drawing, the iirstContact 8d is connected by the cable 62 to the badge storage unit llt.Thus, this positive potential is forwarded over the conductive pathprovided by the relay contact tree of the group` of storage relays inwhich stored the iirst digit of the designation of the employee. ri`hispositive potential is forwarded by the badge storage unit 1d over thecable dl Ito operate a selected one of the interposer solenoids ittrepresenting the value of the rst digit. Following the operation of theproper interposer solenoid lil, the punching assembly is actuated by thecontrol shaft, the indexing drive is operated to advance the card asingle step, the cana dll advances to open the contacts thus releasingthe operated interposer solenoid, and the commutator lo is advanced asingle step so that the wiper tid interconnects the common conductiveseg- 32 with the Contact 86 forming a second position of the commutatori6.

rihe continuing rotation of the control shaft under the control of theenergized clutch solenoid 32 causes the perforation of the remainingitems of information stored in the badge storage unit .ld and the iternsof information provided by the timing circuit l?. in the mannerdescribed in detail above. When the wiper Sd moves into its lastposition and the cam closes the contacts Stia, an obvious operatingcircuit is completed for an end-of-cycle relay liti. The operation ofthe relay d@ opens the contacts ida-idc and closes a plurality ofcontacts dhd and 4de.

rThe opening of the contacts 4Gb interrupts one holding circuit for therelay 2S, but this relay remains operated over the holding circuitcompleted at the closed contacts 3de. The closure of the contacts nietcompletes a holding circuit for the motor control relay 3d extendingthrough the closed contacts 28g so that this relay is not released tostop the motor when the contacts dite are opened to interrupt theabove-described operating and holding circuit for the relay 36. Theclosure of the contacts dile prepares an operating circuit for asolenoid 76 controlling the card ejecting mechanism. However, asdescribed above, the selector switch 72 is in a position in which thecontacts 72b are opened and, accordingly, the circuit prepared by theclosure of the contacts tile is not completed and the ejecting mechanismis not operated. This operation is in accordance with the conditioningof the control circuit for recording a plurality of data entries on asingle record card.

The opening of the contacts dita interrupts the above describedoperating circuit for the reset relay Zd so that this relay releases toopen the contacts 2da, 24h and f3/ic and to close the contacts 24E-d.The opening of the confacts Zlib interrupts the holding circuits for theoperated relays in the badge storage unit ld so that these relays arereleased to clear the unit irl for subsequent operation under thecontrol of the badge sensing unit iti. The opening of the contactsinterrupts the above described holding circuit for the relay 22 so thatthis relay releases to close the contacts 22a and to open the contacts2Zb-22e- The opening of the contacts ZZb interrupts an additional pointin the holding circuit for the rleay 223, and the opening of thecontacts 22e interrupts an additional point in the operating circuit forthe feed roll solenoid 74. The opening of the contacts interrupts anadditional point in the previously interrupted operating circuit for therelay 253, andthe closure of the contacts 220, prepares the abovedescribed operating circuit for the relay The opening of the contacts22e interrupts the above described operating circuit for the clutchrelay so that this relay releases to open the contacts 3ds. The openingof the contacts Stia releases the clutch solenoid 32 and the gatesolenoid Ell. The release of the gate solenoid permits the card stop orlocating gate to move downwardly toward a card intercepting position.However, since a record card is now in the guideway, the gate controlledby the solenoid 36idoes not move to its lowermost position and thus thecontacts 34a controlled thereby remain closed and maintain the relay 2%in an operated condition. The release of the clutch solenoid 3:2disengages tne onerevolution clutch so that, when the control shaftcompletes the present cycle of rotation, additional cycles of rotationthereof are not initiated. Thus, the release of the clutch solenoid 32arrests further operation of the indexing drive mechanism, thecommutator lo, and the punching assembly.

Referring back to the above described release of the relay 2d, theclosure of the contacts 24d completes an operating circuit for the firstcounting relay which extends from the positive potential provided at theclosed contacts 3fm through the closed contacts and a pair of normallyclosed contacts ln operating, the relay 42 closes a plurality ofcontacts lilla/ZC and 22e and opens a pair of contacts 42d. The closureof the contacts 42h prepares a holding circuit for the relay .he closureof the contacts @2c prepares an operating circuit for a second countingrelay dit. rthe opening of the contacts interrupts an additional pointin another operating circuit for the first counting relay d2, and theclosure of the contacts 42e prepares a portion of an operating circuitfor the ejecting solenoid 76.

During the last cycle of rotation of the control shaft, the rotation ofthe cam titl opens the contacts fln so that the above describedoperating circuit for the relay is interrupted, thus releasing thisrelay. ln releasing, the relay itl closes the contacts nda-dile andopens the contacts Lith! and 4de. The opening of the contacts (alleinterrupts an additional point in the operating circuit for the eiectingsolenoid il-t6, `and the closure of the contacts ttb completes anadditional. holding circuit for the relay 2,8. The closure of thecontacts dile prepares an operating circuit for the motor control relay3o, and the opening of the contacts 46d interrupts the holding circuitfor the relay 36 so that this relay releases to open the contacts 36:1.The opening of the contacts Een stops the motor "i" he closure of thecontacts completes the above described operating circuit for the relay24 so that this relay operates to open the contacts 2da and 2de and toclose the contacts 24th and Zit-d.

The closure of the contacts 24h forwards holding potential to the badgestorage unit lill, and the closure of the contacts 24a prepares theabove described holding circuit for the relay 22 and the motor controlrelay 35. rhe contacts 24e and 24d form a malte-before-breali contactarrangement so that the closure of the contacts 24C completes a holdingcircuit for the first counting relay lf2 extending through the closedcontacts Elle, 2b and 4de prior to the opening of the contacts Zlib tointerrupt the casse o; above described operating circuit for this relay.Thus, the

first counting relay remains operated to indicate that a first cycle ofoperation of the commutator le has been completed during which the rstdata entry has been recorded 0n the record card. Further, during thelast cycle of rotation of the control shaft, the wiper S4 is returned toits normal home position in which it interconnects the common conductivesegment S2 and the contact Se forming the first stepping position of thecommutator llo.

Accordingly, at this itme, a first data entry comprising the badgenumber of an employee and the time at which the badge was inserted intothe badge sensing unit T18 together with other desirable items ofinformation has been recorded on the record card, the commutator 15 hasbeen returned to a normal home position, and the first counting relay l2has been operated to indicate the cornpletion of a first cycle ofoperation of the time recorder unit. Further, the motor 38 has beenstopped at the completion of the recording operation to avoid excessiveoperation thereof, and the record card on which the first data entry hasbeen made has been advanced to a position in which it is capable ofreceiving the first item of information to be recorded in the seconddata entry. Also, the reset relay 2d has been released to clear thebadge storage unit lll and reoperated to forward a holding potentialthereto. er unit remains in this condition until such time as the nextbadge is inserted into the sensing unit 18.

When the next time entry for the next employee is to be made, a codedbadge is again inserted into the sensing unit llso that the contacts ofiare again closed to sequentially operate the relays 2li and 22. Thesequential operation of these relays again causes the sensing of theinserted key and the storage of the designation of the employee in thebadge storage unit ld. The control circuit then places the timerrecorder unit in operation to record the items of information formingthe second data entry on the card in the same manner as described above,with the following exception. inasmuch as the cardihas not been ejectedfrom the recorder at the completion of the recording of the first dataentry, the contacts 'Illa and Fitil? are not again operated. Further,since the partially punched record card remains in the recorder, thecontacts 2da are held closed to maintain the relay 28 in an operatedcondition. Thus, the contacts 28e yand 70a remain closed so that, assoon as the contacts 22C are closed by the operation of the relay 22, apositive potential is again forwarded to the contacts 3de and to operatethe punch relay 35.9 so that the second cycle of operation of thecommutator lo is initiated. During this cycle, the items of informationforming the second data entry are recorded on the record cardimmediately following te items of information forming the first dataentry thereon.

When the commutator llo approaches the end of its second cycle ofoperation and, more specifically, when the wiper Se is moved intoengagement with the next to the last contact 86 and the cam Sti closesthe contacts Sila, a positive potential is forwarded through a rectifierSS and the closed contacts 42C to complete an obvious operating circuitfor the second counting relay ll-4. The relay fili, in operating, closesa plurality of contacts 44a-44d and df and opens the contacts lille. Theclosure of the contacts dlt-a completes a holding circuit extending tothe positive potential provided by the closed contacts 34a formaintaining the relay lll-4 operated. The closure of the contacts elleprepares a holding circuit for the relay 42. rThe closure of thecontacts trib and @ed prepares a portion of an operating circuit for therelay d2. The closure of the contacts i4-f prepares an operating circuitfor the ejecting solenoid 76, which circuit is interrupted at the opencontacts elle. The opening of the contacts interrupts the abovedescribed holding circuit for the first counting relay S2 so that thisrelay releases to open.

The control circuit in the time recordthe contacts 42a 42c and 42e andto close the contacts 42d.

The opening of the contacts 42a interrupts a point in a holding circuitfor the relay 42, and the opening of the contacts 42h interrupts anadditional point in the previously opened holding circuit for the relay42. The opening of the contacts 42e interrupts'the above describedoperating circuit for the second counting relay 4d, but this relayremains operated over the holding circuit completed at the closedcontacts 44a. The closure of the contacts 42d prepares an operatingcircuit for the relay e2 which is connected to the third from the lastcontact S6 in the commutator 16. The opening of the contacts 42einterrupts a point in the operating circuit for the ejection solenoid'76.

When the commutator 1d is advanced to its next stepping position, theabove described operating circuit for the end-of-cycle relay 40 iscompleted so that this relay operates to open the contacts 46a-4de andto close the contacts 4nd and 40e. The operation of the end-of-cyclerelay it? performs the same functions as described above except that therelease of the relay 24 in actuating the contacts 24e and 24d performsno useful function due to the prior opening of the contacts 42e. Thus,when the commutator 16 is advanced to its home position and theend-of-cycle relay 4t? is again released to cause the reoperation of therelay 24, the control circuit associated with the time recorder unit isrestored to the condition described above with the exception that theiirst counting relay 42 is now in the released condition and the secondcounting relay 44 is in an operated condition. Further, at this time therecord card has been provided with two separate data entries and has notbeen ejected from the time recorder unit. The time recorder and thecontrol circuit remain in this condition until such time as anothercoded key is inserted into the badge sensing unit t8.

When the third successive badge or key is inserted into the sensing unit18, the time recorder unit and the control circuits therefor are placedin operation, as described above, so that the items of informationpertaining to the designation of the employee and the time together withother items of information are recorded on the punched card as the thirddata entry thereon. During this operation, when the commutator lo isadvanced to the third from the last stepping position thereof and thecam 80 closes the contacts Sdn, the positive potential provided by thecommon conductive segment 32 and the wiper 34 is forwarded through ablocking diode 99 and the closed contacts 42a', 4412 and 44d to againcomplete an operating circuit for the first counting relay d2. Thisrelay now operates to again close the contacts 32a-42e and 42e and toopen the contacts 42d. The closure of the contacts 42a completes aholding circuit for the relay 42 extending to the positive potentialprovided at the closed contacts 34a so that the opening of the contacts42d to interrupt the above described operating circuit does not releasethe first counting relay 42. Since the second counting relay 44 is heldin an operated condition by the holding circuit extending through theclosed contacts 44a, the closure of the contacts die produces no usefulfunction. Similarly, the closure of the contacts 421) performs no usefulfunction at this time. The closure of the contacts 42e prepares anoperating circuit for the ejecting solenoid 76 so that this solenoid isoperated at the completion of the third cycle of operation of thecommutator le to eject the record card which now includes three separatedata entries.

Thus, when the commutator lo is advanced to its last stepping position,the end-ofcycle relay It@ is again operated to produce the functionsdescribed above. However, when the relay it? is operated at this time,the closure of the contacts @Se completes an obvious operating circuitextending through the closed contacts 42e and idf for the ejectingsolenoid 7o. ln operating, the solenoid 76 opens the contacts 76a tointerrupt the energizing circuit for the index roll solenoid 7S, therebyshifting the idler out of engagement with the card to free it forejection by the ejecting mechanism. The operation of the solenoid 76also actuates an ejecting mechanism of the type disclosed in detail inthe above identified copending Parsons and Harwood application so thatthe record card is ejected from the time recorder unit.

As the trailing edge of the card passes beyond the lower edge of thecard locating gate, which has been released by the release of the gatesolenoid 34, the contacts 34a are opened. The opening of these contactstogether with the opening of the contacts itil? due to the operation ofthe end-of-cycle relay il interrupts both of the holding circuits forthe card relay 28 so that this relay releases to restore the contactscontrolled thereby to their normal condition. The opening of thesecontacts also releases the relays i2 and 44 and the solenoid 76. Theremainder of the control circuit associated with the time recorder unitis restored to its normal condition by the operation and release of theend-of-cycle relay 49 in the manner described in detail above. Thus, thecompletion of the recording of three separate data entries on the recordcard results in the operation of the ejection solenoid 7d to eject theperforated card from the time recorder unit and in the restoration ofthe control circuit to a normal condition in which it is capable ofbeing placed in operation only by the insertion of a blank record cardand by the insertion of a key to be sensed into the unit 18.

lf the time recorder unit is to be operated so that only a single dataentry is to be recorded on each record card, the selector switch 72 isoperated so that the contacts '72a are opened and the contacts 72b areclosed. The closure of the contacts 72b completes a shunt around thecontacts 42e and idf controlled by the first and second counting relays42 and 44 so that each time the end-ofcycle relay dii is operated toclose the contacts 4de, the ejecting solenoid 76 is actuated to ejectthe card from the time recorder unit. Thus, only a single data entry canbe recorded on each card inserted into the time recorder unit. Further,the opening of the contacts 72a removes the shunting circuit forforwarding the positive potential directly to the contacts 6d controlledby the badge sensing unit l so that it is no longer possible to placethe control circuit in operation merely by inserting a key into thebadge sensing unit. Accordingly, the time recorder unit can be placed inoperation only by both inserting a blank record card into the guidewaytherefor so as to operate the switch tl and inserting a coded key.Further, since the motor control relay 36 can only be operated over acircuit including both of the contacts "itib and 64, it is not possibleto place the drive motor 33 in operation without both inserting a keyinto the badge sensing unit i8 and inserting a blank record card intothe card receiving guideway therefor. Thus, the selective operation ofthe selector switch 72 conditions the time recorder unit and the controlcircuit therefor either for an operation in which a plurality ofseparate data entries are recorded on a single record card or one inwhich only a single data entrv is recorded on the card following whichthe punched card is ejected from the time recorder unit.

As set forth in detail in the above-identified copending Parsons andHarwood application, it is necessary to avoid concurrent adjustment ofthe settings of the stepping switches in the timing circuit l2 and therecording of time information under the control of the interposersolenoids l@ in order to avoid the recording of an inaccurate time entryon the record card. in the above identified copending application SerialNo. 674,131, means are provided for arresting cyclic operation of thetime recorder and of the commutator during the period in which thesetting of the timing circuit is being adjusted. However, in the conrolcircuit of the present invention, means are provided which positivelyprevent the concurrent adjustment of the settings of the timing circuitand recording of time information without also interrupting the normalcycle of recording operation of the time recorder unit.

This means includes a cam 92 which is carried on the shaft to which thewiper $34 is connected land which is driven in synchronism with theshaft for advancing the wiper Sd. The cam 92 is so disposed in asynchronous drive relationship with `the wiper dit that when the wiperSd is in engagement with the contacts Se to which the timing circuit l2:is connected, the cam ,312 closes a pair of contacts 92a, therebycompleting `an obvious operating ycircuit for a time interlock relay do.The operation of the relay do opens the contacts les and a pair ofcontacts den and closes a pair of contacts de The opening of `thecontacts 46c interrupts the above described path extending over theconductor 5u from the contacts 52a for applying operating signals to thetiming circuit l2. Thus, the operation of the relay de positivelyprevents the transmission of operating signals to the timing circuit l2during the interval in which time information is being recorded by thetime recorder unit. The closure of the contacts del) interconnects thecontacts 52a with a condenser 9d. lf the cont-acts 52a are closed duringthe opera-tion of the time recorder unit, the positive potential chargesthe condenser M- to store the operating signal `for subsequenttransmission to the timing circuit l2.

When the commutator ltd is advanced beyond the positions in which timeinformation is recorded, the cam 92 opens the contacts 92a to releasethe timing interlock relay 46. In releasing, the relay lo closes thecontacts 46c to establish the normal operating circuit including theconductor 5 for supplying operating pulses to the timing circuit l2.rEhe closure of the contacts fida interconnects the storage condenser 9dwith the conductor 56 through a blocking diode 9d. The condenser 9d, ifcharged, discharges over the path including the diode 96 and theconductor 55o to supply an operating signal to the timing circuit l2 tocorrect the settings of the stepping switches therein. The opening ofthe contacts deb interrupts the above described circuit extendingbetween the storage condenser 9d and the contacts 52a. Thus, theoperation ot the time inter-loci; relay te provides means for preventingan adjustment of the settings of the stepping switches in the timingcircuit l2 during the interval in which time information is recorded onthe record card and this relay, together with the storage condenserprovides means for storing any operating which is supplied during theintelock interval and for subsequently transmitting it to the timingcircuit l2.

According-ly, `the time recorder uni-t of the present invention togetherwith the control means therefor provides means for selectively recordingone or `a plurality of separate data entries on a record card and formoditying the operation ot .the control circuit to accomplish either ofthese two types of operation. Further, the control circuit includes newand improved means tor preventing the concurrent adjustment of a timingsource `and recording ot information provided by the timing source. Thislatter means comprises means vfor interrupting the supply of operatingsignals to the timing circuit during the interval in which recordingtakes place and means for storing operating signals provided during thisinterval and subsequently applying them to the timing circuit followingthe completion of the time recording portion ot the cycle of operationof the time recorder unit.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with asingle embodiment thereof, it is obvious that numerous other embodimentsmay be devised by those skilled in the art which will tall within thespirit and scope of the principles of `this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. in a time recorder, recording means, a timing oircuit continuouslyadjustable `to settings representing time data under the control ofapplied signals, signaling means l2 for periodically applying operatingsignals to said timing circuit, means for rendering said timing circuiteffective to control said recording means so that said recording meansrecords said time data, means operative during the operation of saidrecording means for preventing the application of signals to said timingcircuit from said signaling circuit and for storing said signals, 4andmeans operative following the recording of said time data by saidrecording means for applying the stored signals to said timing circuit.

2. ln ya time recorder, recording means, a timing circuit continuouslyadjustable to settings representing time data under the control ofapplied signals, signaling means for periodically applying operatingsignals to said timing circuit, means for rendering said timing circuiteffective to control said recording means so Ithat said recording meansrecords said time data, first means operative during the operation ot"said recording means for preventing the application of signals, to saidtiming circuit from said `signaling circuit, second means vconnected tosaid signaling means during operation of said recording means forstoring said operating signals, and means operative following therecording of said time data by said recording means for disabling saidfirst means and for rendering said second means effective to apply thestored signals to said. timing circuit.

3. ln `a time recorder, recording means, a timing circuit continuouslyadjustable to settings representing time data under the control ofapplied signals, signaling means for transmitting operatingsignals tosaid timing circuit at time spaced intervals, a commutator operablethrough successive steps for rendering said recording means responsiveto control by said timing circuit, switching means operable insynchronismwith said commutator for interrupting the transmission ofoperating signals to said timing circuit from said signaling `means assaid cornmutator moves through at least a selected number of saidsuccessive steps, storage means controlled by said switching mean forstoring a signal transmitted by said signaling means as said commutatormoves through said selected number of steps, and means for transmittingsaid stored signal to said timing circuit after said commutator hasmoved through said number of successive steps. t

4. in a time recorder, recording means, a timing circuit continuouslyadjustable to settings representing time data under the control ofapplied signals, signaling means for transmitting operating signals tosaid timing circuit at time spaced intervals, switching means operablethrough successive steps for rendering said recording means responsiveto control by said timing circuit, means operable in a .timed relationwith said switching means tor interrupting the transmission of operatingsignals to said timing circuit from said signaling means as saidswitching means moves through at least a selected number only of saidsuccessive steps, storage means for storing a signal .transmitted bysaid signaling means as said switching means moves through said selectednumber of steps, and means for transmitting said stored signal from studstorage means to said timing circuit after said switching means hasmoved through said number of successive steps.

5. In a time recorder, recording means, a timing circuit continuouslyadjustable to settings representing instant time under the control ofapplied signals, signaling means for transmitting operating signals tosaid timing lcircuit at time spaced interv-als, a commutator operablethrough successive steps for rendering said recording means responsiveto control by said timing circuit, switching means operable insynchronism with said commutator for interrupting the transmission ofoperating signals -to said timing circuit from said signaling means assaid commutator moves through `at least a selected number of saidsuccessive steps, storage means connected to said signaling means bysaid switching mean tor storing a 3,155,453 i3 i4 signal transmitted bysaid signaling means as said com- References Cited in the le of thispatent mutator moves through said selected number of steps, UNITEDSTATES PATENTS and means for connecting said storage means to said2,407,020 Kraus Sept. 3, 1946 timing clrcult after said commutator hasmoved through 2,734,743 Spurhno et al Feb. 14 1956 said number ofsuccessive steps to transmit said stored 5 2,825,561 Sobisch Mal. 4,1958 signal to said timing circuit. 2,838,361 Findlay et al June 10,1958

1. IN A TIME RECORDER, RECORDING MEANS, A TIMING CIRCUIT CONTINUOUSLYADJUSTABLE TO SETTINGS REPRESENTING TIME DATA UNDER THE CONTROL OFAPPLIED SIGNALS, SIGNALING MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY APPLYING OPERATINGSIGNALS TO SAID TIMING CIRCUIT, MEANS FOR RENDERING SAID TIMING CIRCUITEFFECTIVE TO CONTROL SAID RECORDING MEANS SO THAT SAID RECORDING MEANSRECORDS SAID TIME DATA, MEANS OPERATIVE DURING THE OPERATION OF SAIDRECORDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE APPLICATION OF SIGNALS TO SAID TIMINGCIRCUIT FROM SAID SIGNALING CIRCUIT AND FOR STORING SAID SIGNALS, ANDMEANS OPERATIVE FOLLOWING THE RECORDING OF SAID TIME DATA BY SAIDRECORDING MEANS FOR APPLYING THE STORED SIGNALS TO SAID TIMING CIRCUIT.